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Listen To Your News		Thursday, July 12, 2012		News Archive

A PAIR OF EARTHQUAKES RATTLE THE MORONGO BASIN
A pair of earthquakes, the first moderate and the second small, just one minute apart, rattled the communities of the Morongo Basin today. According to the USGS, the first 3.9 magnitude temblor struck at 10:54 this morning, the second, a 2.6, hit at 10:55. The twin quakes were felt as a sharp jolt followed my a rolling motion at the Z107.7 studios in Joshua Tree, they were centered 2 miles and 3 miles respectively SSE of Yucca Valley. There were no reports of damages or injury.

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HIGH-SPEED CHASE THROUGH TWENTYNINE PALMS ENDS IN ARREST
After a high-speed chase through neighborhoods, a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon resulted in the arrest of a Twentynine Palms woman for failure to yield and a felony warrant. About 4:45 yesterday, a deputy attempted to stop Tina Louise Maurer, 33, for broken tail lights near Mesquite Springs Road and Highway 62. According to Sheriff's Sergeant Jason Radeleff, Maurer fled northbound on Mesquite Springs Road at a high rate of speed and blowing through stop signs. When Maurer attempted to make a left turn onto Old Chisholm Trail, she lost control of her car and crashed into a street sign. She attempted to flee on foot, but was pursued and caught by the deputy. Maurer is a fugitive who did not appear in court last month for a burglary charge and so has a $75,000 felony warrant out for her arrest. Tina Maurer was arrested on the warrant and also for investigation of felony failure to yield. She was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with her bail set at $100,000.

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AN ARREST FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY IN TWENTYNINE PALMS
A Twentynine Palms man who was convicted of domestic battery in May was arrested Monday—for domestic battery. According to a Sheriff's report, a woman called the Sheriff's department about 10:20 Monday morning saying Michael Carreon, 20, tackled her when she tried to leave a home in the 74300 block of Chemehuevi Drive. The woman asked for a deputy to keep the peace while she collected her things to leave. After an investigation, Michael Carreon was arrested for investigation of domestic battery. He was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $25,000. In May, Carreon pled guilty to domestic battery after he slugged his girlfriend in the stomach and shoved her. Carreon was sentenced to 45 days in County Jail with a year-long program for domestic batterers. Carreon was in Joshua Tree court yesterday requesting his report date to jail be delayed until August 3.

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HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER BLEEDING MONEY
A series of circumstances has our Hi-Desert Medical Center losing money at an alarming rate. Managing Editor Tami Roleff was said the Hospital Board heard the bad news at this week's meeting...
The Hi-Desert Medical Center faces many challenges in the Morongo Basin. It's a small, public hospital in an area where County hospitals are so far away that it becomes a "safety net hospital" for area residents. The Morongo Basin population skews "young," meaning that 80 percent is under age 64, and only 12 percent of the population would qualify for Medicare. The remaining population relies on private insurance or MediCal, and an unfortunately high percentage is uninsured. These uninsured patients—many of whom can't afford to pay for their care at all—place quite a strain on the hospital's finances by using the emergency department as their primary care provider, since hospitals are required by law to treat all emergency department patients regardless of their ability to pay. The medical center's Board of Directors heard at its meeting Tuesday night that its year-to-date operating loss for the last 11 months for fiscal year 2012 was more than $4 million. Even with non-operating income and expenses included, its year-to-date loss is about $2.5 million. Nearly every department at the hospital—except for labor and delivery and the Continuing Care Center—had fewer than anticipated patients, which contributed to the shortfall. For fiscal year 2013, the hospital expects to have a net operating loss of almost $2 million, despite removing a 2 percent merit increase for hospital employees from its budget.

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COUNTY GRAND JURY CRITICIZES AGENCY ABOUT EBT CARD FRAUD
The County Grand Jury said the County Human Services Department isn't cooperating with the District Attorney's Office in prosecution of welfare fraud cases. In their recently released report, the Grand Jury noted, "We learned from the District Attorney's Office they are not able to prosecute cases, as they have been in the past, because they do not get cooperation from the Human Services Department who can provide the evidence needed." The Grand Jury targeted how the Human Services Department dealt with prosecutors in their investigations and prosecutions of cases involving EBT card fraud. Similar to ATM cards, EBT cards are used for cash benefits or to electronically purchase food. An epidemic of EBT card fraud, in which people are selling their cards for cash, has swept the nation, prompting law enforcement to team up with state and federal agencies to crack down on offenders. One of the most popular ways cards are being sold is via popular Internet auction and classified ad websites such as Craigslist and eBay. The Grand Jury said that the District Attorney's Office invited members of the Human Services Public Integrity Division to participate in a warrant sweep in connection with roughly 850 cases, but Human Services was unwilling to participate.

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JOINT MEETING ON FUTURE OF TWENTYNINE PALMS FIRE SERVICES TONIGHT
The four public agencies involved will all get together to talk about the future of Fire Services in Twentynine Palms tonight. Reporter Dan Stork has details...
In the wake of the failure of the ballot measure to extend and increase the tax that supports the Twentynine Palms Fire Department, there will be a joint workshop to discuss the future of fire services in the City and environs. The meeting will be held at the Community Services Building, 74325 Joe Davis Drive, on Thursday July 12 at 7 p.m. The formal title of the session is a Joint Workshop to Discuss Future Organizational Structure, Governance and Operation. Participating in the workshop will be the Board of Directors of the Twentynine Palms Water District, the Twentynine Palms City Council, the Twentynine Palms Fire Department, and the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

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CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE GREG IMUS ON Z107-7 TOMORROW
Gregg Imus, a Republican running for California's 8th Congressional District, will be the guest on the Z107.7 "Up Close" show tomorrow. He is running against State Assemblyman and former Yucca Valley Mayor Paul Cook. Under California's new primary system, the top two vote getters run off for the seat, in this case resulting in two Republicans running for the newly formed congressional district. Imus, a Lake Arrowhead resident for 39 years, most recently served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Assemblyman Tim Donnelly. He is co-founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corporation of California and has volunteered more than 2,500 hours on the Mexican border. Greg Imus, Congressional candidate, on the Z107-7 "Up Close" show tomorrow at 10 a.m. here on Z107.7.

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"HAPPY FEET" SCHEDULED FOR TWENTYNINE PALMS MOVIE IN THE PARK TONIGHT
Weather permitting, Twentynine Palms Recreation will show their movie in the park tonight. Reporter Lenore Roberts invites you to see "Happy Feet"...
The City of Twentynine Palms Park and Recreation presents a movie premier of Happy Feet Two Thursday, July 12, at the racquetball court in Luckie Park. This animated musical film brings penguins back to the big screen and stars Mumble's son, Erik, who is struggling to realize his talents in the Emperor Penguin world. The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m. and viewers are invited to bring a blanket, lawn chairs, family and friends to enjoy watching this movie in the summer evening at Luckie Park. Admission is free and concessions are available for snacks and beverages. For more information contact 760-367-7562.

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OPEN HOUSE AT MORONGO BASIN SENIOR SUPPORT CENTER NEXT WEEK
There will be an open house all next week at the Morongo Basin Senior Support Center in Yucca Valley. The open house will allow residents to see first hand what the facility at 57121 Sunny Slope Drive has to offer. Enjoy a week of warm water exercise FREE. Anybody 18 years or older are invited from July 16-20 between 9-2 p.m. Call for details 760-365-9661.

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